Jordan calls for emergency Arab League meeting after Israeli move to ban UNRWA

By Laith Al-jnaidi

AMMAN, Jordan (AA) – Jordan on Tuesday called on the Arab League to hold an "emergency" meeting to discuss a joint response against the Israeli parliament's decision to ban the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which could affect its work in Gaza.

A joint Arab response is required on the "serious and illegitimate laws" approved by the Israeli Knesset, which bans the activities of the UNRWA in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, a Jordanian Foreign Ministry statement said.

The statement said that the meeting would "discuss the necessary steps to adopt a unified Arab stance rejecting these invalid Israeli laws and measures, and to mobilize international support to confront and nullify them.”

Amjad Adaileh, Jordan’s ambassador to Cairo and permanent representative to the Arab League, has been instructed to quickly develop an Arab reaction to counter these illegitimate acts, it added.

"This step is part of a series of measures and communications undertaken by the Kingdom (of Jordan), in coordination with Arab allies, to confront Israeli aggressive actions against the Palestinian people,” it noted.

The statement warned of "the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing false claims and illegitimate Israeli actions aimed at politically undermining UNRWA and obstructing its efforts to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians amid the unprecedented disaster caused by Israeli aggression in Gaza and escalating measures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem."

On Monday, the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning UNRWA from operating, which would eventually affect its work in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

The vote saw 92 out of 120 Knesset members in favor of the ban, with 10 opposed.

A separate bill from Knesset members Ron Katz, Yulia Malinovsky, and Dan Illouz, which was approved by lawmakers in a 87-9 vote, mandates that Israel cut all ties with UNRWA, barring any cooperation or privileges the agency previously held.

The legislation will take effect in 90 days.

Israel has accused UNRWA employees of complicity in last year’s Hamas attack, alleging that the agency’s educational programs “promote terrorism and hatred.”

UNRWA, headquartered in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, denies the accusations and asserts that it remains neutral, solely focusing on supporting refugees.

The agency was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1949, with a mandate to provide assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees.

The Israeli army has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Over 43,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 101,100 others injured, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.​​​​​​​

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala